3 III. The Tournament

King's Cross was exceptionally busy on September 1st, 1994. Rowen pushed a trolley cart in front of her with her luggage for school stacked on it. Her luggage consisted of two trunks, each with the Hogwarts logo printed at the top and a small cage that contained her owl, Odus. She spotted the entrance to Platform 9 3/4 and with a quick glance behind her, she walked briskly towards the brick wall between platforms nine and ten.

Emerging on the platform Rowen was overwhelmed with her surroundings. It was her sixth year attending Hogwarts and the platform never failed to leave the girl breathless. She walked towards the train, observing the tearful goodbyes between students and their families. Rowen couldn't help but feel a bit of sadness watching the many families bid their children farewell. She wondered what her parents were doing at this moment when they should be here, seeing her off.

William Bishop was probably at his desk in the Department of Mysteries, and her mother was likely planning some sort of extravagant dinner party which other wealthy purebloods would most definitely attend. After dropping her luggage off at the correct car carrying the smallest one with her as it contained her robes and a few galleons for the food trolley. Rowen made her way to the back of the train and sat in an empty compartment.

Rowen peered out of the window at the large clock hanging off the wall of the platform which read 10:58. The train would be leaving in two minutes, and most of the compartments were full of students. Rowen pulled out The Dark Arts Outsmarted and began to read.

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan got onto the train just before it departed and quickly realised that just about every compartment was at max capacity. They made their way towards the back of the train when George spotted Rowen Bishop, sitting alone, her nose stuck in a book. George elbowed Lee earning an annoyed look before pointing at the girl.

The boys exchanged a wicked smirk, and Lee pulled the compartment doors open. "Are these seats taken?" He asked. Rowen only shook her head, not looking up from her book. George grabbed his twin brother at the elbow and forced him into the seat next to Rowen. George and Lee sat on the bench opposite them.

Fred glared at his brother and mouthed what the fuck is the matter with you?

Start a conversation George mouthed back slowly while urging his head towards the Bishop girl.

Fred rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "So," he paused, thinking of the right thing to say, "You and Barry Ryan, huh?" That was not the right thing to say, he thought to himself. George slapped his head into his hand and Lee snorted before attempting to suppress his laughter with a cough.

Rowen scoffed closing her book and looking at Fred. Her face softened when she realised who had asked the absurd question. "Barry and I are just friends." She said, but her mind couldn't help but think about the butterflies in her stomach when Barry wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Does he know that?" Fred asked, instantly regretting it when Rowen gave him a puzzled look.

"Jealous, Weasley?" The girl asked raising an eyebrow.

Fred face turned bright red, and he opened his mouth to speak before George interrupted him. "What my brother meant to ask," George started, looking to Fred who was now leaning against the wall of the compartment with his arms crossed over his chest, "Is how you enjoyed the Quidditch Cup, besides the whole Death Eater, riot, dark mark thing."

"That reminds me. I never did thank you guys for helping me up off the ground." Rowen smiled and turned towards Fred. "Thank you, Fred." She looked back to George. "Thank you, George."

"Of course, milady," George said, bowing dramatically. When Fred didn't say anything, George kicked him. "What do you say when someone thanks you, Freddie?"

"Sorry, mum," Fred said to George before looking towards Rowen. "You're very welcome fair maiden." He tipped an invisible hat.

Rowen rolled her eyes with a slight laugh. The rest of the train ride consisted of the four talking and joking around. Fred was forcing himself not to stare at Rowen as much as possible, but whenever he did it seemed as if the girl was looking right back. George and Lee were constantly trying to incite a conversation between Fred and Rowen, although these conversations never went well. They even went as far as abandoning Fred and Rowen in the compartment together while they bothered Angelina Johnson. The two sat in awkward silence the whole time, which George later scolded his brother for, saying Fred should have been snogging her by the time he and Lee were back. When the train finally arrived at Hogsmeade Station, Fred was the first out of the compartment, which Rowen noticed and when she gave George an inquisitive look he merely shrugged. Lee and Rowen talked about Quidditch on the short carriage ride to Hogwarts and argued over which house would win the cup this year before the group parted ways to sit at their house tables.

Students surrounded Rowen at the Slytherin table, talking excitedly about the year to come. Although Rowen was considerably popular, she didn't have anyone that she considered a real friend. The majority of her classmates tried befriending her simply because of her blood and family status. Rowen was fine with not having friends. She would much rather focus on school and passing her classes.

After the sorting ceremony, a variety of foods appeared on the tables and the students began to feast. Dumbledore stood from his seat causing the entire student body to twist their heads towards him.

Dumbledore smiled, "So! Now that we are fed and watered, I must ask once more for your attention while I give out a few notices. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle this year has been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr Filch's office if anybody would like to check it," Rowen rolled her eyes. The Weasley twins would have a field day with this. The headmaster continued, "As always, I would like to remind you that the Forest on the grounds is out of bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below the third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year." A loud boom of angry yells sounded through the Great Hall, including some from Rowen. Quidditch was one of the few things the girl looked forward to throughout the year.

"Rubbish!" The Weasley twins yelled from the Gryffindor table.

Dumbledore continued, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year. It will take up much of the teachers time and energy, but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-,"

Dumbledore was interrupted by a boom of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. Every head whipped towards a man dressed in a black cloak that was standing in the doorway, leaning on a staff. Lighting flashed, illuminating the man who was quite strange looking. Rowen recognized him as Alastor Moody, a rather famous Auror. He hosted a wooden leg that made him limp, but his most recognizable features were his eyes. One of which was small and dark while the other was a vibrant blue that darted around wildly.

Moody made his way towards the teacher's table, a clunk echoing through the room whenever he stepped with his wooden leg. He limped towards Dumbledore as another flash of lightning lit up the room. He stretched out a hand, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering something. Dumbledore motioned to an empty seat at the teacher's table, where the man then sat.

"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher," said Dumbledore, "Professor Moody." Dumbledore and Hagrid were the only ones to clap. The headmaster cleared his throat again. "As I was saying." Dumbledore smiled at the sea of students, most of which were still staring wide-eyed at the newest professor. "We are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months. An event which has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Tri-Wizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year!" A collection of excited murmurs sounded throughout The Great Hall. Rowen scoffed at the thought of the tournament.

"You're joking!" yelled Fred Weasley. The student body laughed.

"No I am not joking Mr Weasley," the headmaster said, "Though I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar–"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly, and Rowen silently thanked the professor as Dumbledore's jokes were rarely funny.

"Where was I?" Dumbledore stopped for a short moment to think. "Ah, yes, the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation. The Tri-Wizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry."

Rowen tuned out the Headmaster, not caring much about the history of the tournament. Her eyes wandered towards the Gryffindor table where she caught Fred Weasley staring at her, however, he quickly looked away. George noticed this and turned his attention towards the girl giving her an exaggerated wink. Fred elbowed his brother and George winced in pain.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which have been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Co-operation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that, this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in less than two months, and on Halloween, we will have the Champion Selections. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Tri-Wizard Cup, the glory of their school and a thousand galleon personal prize money. Though I know all of you would be able to bring the Tri-Wizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an agreed restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age, that is, seventeen years or older, will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This-"Dumbledore amplified his voice because of the sudden uproar of angry yells from underage students,"-is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below Sixth and Seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." Rowen thought immediately of the Weasley twins, who were already plotting how to overcome this rule. "I, therefore, implore you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be staying with us for the greater part of this year. I know you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us. I also expect you to provide your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop Chop!"

The plates of food immediately cleared from the table as hundreds of students stood from their house tables, making their way to their common rooms.